Sprint turns on 4G for New York City, others

It's been available in drips and drabs for a number of weeks now, but Sprint this morning finally and officially flipped the switch on its 4G data service in New York City. And in addition to the greatest city in the world, 4G data also was turned on in New Haven and Hartford, Conn.; New Brunswick and Trenton, N.J.; and Tampa. So if you have an HTC Evo 4G or Epic 4G (or Sprint Overdrive), you can finally turn on that 4G radio in confidence -- and leave it on. [Sprint]

Samsung announces Galaxy Tab development forum and tools

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is going to change the face of Android, and Samsung is doing its part to assist developers and make the transition of developing for a tablet as seamless as possible. Samsung has sent out an email to registered Android developers with a series of handy links and information about the tweaks needed to take advantage of the big 1024x600 7-inch screen. Using Samsung's tools and existing Android APIs, developers can easily make applications that correctly scale across all screen sizes, and the new screen real estate on the Galaxy Tab will allow for some new and exciting user experience changes for tablet specific applications. Developers, and other interested parties should check out these links:

Oracle updates lawsuit, says Google copied code

Oracle has amended its lawsuit against Google, and claims that Google is stealing code for use in Android. They also make claim that one-third of the Java APIs for use by application developers are a derivative of Oracle APIs. The above picture certainly does support their claim, as it's almost a direct copy.

I have to be honest here, I'm not exactly sure what this all means. There are parts of Java that will need to be copied to work, and there are parts that don't. Remember, this all started with Sun. Google and Sun were in contention over the use of the GPL, which would expose carriers and manufacturers code if it were enforced. This is why Apache licensing is used in Google, and why Apple chose the BSD kernel instead of the more popular and widely used Linux kernel to run their products.

None of us here are hardcore Java developers, and none of us are in the legal profession. We have to sit back and watch, just like you do, and hope that the outcome is fair for both sides. If Google stole code, they need to be punished financially. If not, Oracle needs to be reigned in. Sometimes fighting for your ideals isn't a good idea, and maybe Google should follow Apple and start to pull away from Oracle and Java. Maybe Tim Bray says it best (NSFW). [Electronista, ZDNet]

Evo 4G accessory review: HTC HDMI Cable for Evo 4G

The HTC HDMI Cable for Evo 4G is the perfect complement to the Sprint Evo 4G when you want to share a video from your phone. The function couldn't be any more simple: you plug one end into the micro HDMI port (that's a type D) on your Evo, and the other end into your TV or HDMI-equipped monitor. Let's take a look after the break.

We're fully expecting the Samsung Continuum to be announced at Sammy's New York City event on Nov. 8, but that doesn't mean the phone will be available that day. (And that's how it goes, more often than not.) But it likely won't be long after that before the dual-screen phone will be available for purchase. Phone Arena has a screen shot showing the Continuum available in all Verizon retail channels on Nov. 11 -- the same day that Big Red's Galaxy Tab goes on sale.

PayPal coming to Android Market Nov 2? [rumor]

Rumor alert! I've received a tip from a very trustworthy source that Google will announce support for PayPal payments in the Android Market on Nov. 2. It's no secret that PayPal and Google have been working on making it happen, and we honestly expected an announcement last week during PayPal's developer's forum, but it didn't materialize.

We take all rumors with a grain of salt (and you should, too!), but the details surrounding this one sure sound right, and I'm going with it. There's not much more I can say, but be on the lookout for this news as well as some other announcements from developers and publishers on Nov. 2. Thanks to our anonymous friend!

All US citizens who are of age should be prepared to go out and cast a ballot come Election Day, and Google just made it a bit easier with their mobile election center site for Android and iOS. Head to m.google.com/elections on your phone, enter your address and Google will help you find your official polling place, and track your local and the national elections.

Remember, if you don't vote, you don't get to complain about the winners. [Google Mobile Blog]

HTC reports record fourth quarter with $3.3 billion in sales

HTC has perhaps been the single largest OEM supporter of Android since Google launched the OS. Remember, the G1, Hero, Nexus 1, Droid Incredible, Desire, and Evo 4G (and many, many more phones) were all made by the Taiwanese company and were largely considered the best Android phones on the market when each launched. The company just released their numbers for Q4 and to say they are impressive is an understatement. The company raked in north of $3.3 billion in sales, units shipped doubled year-over-year to 9 million, and total units shipped doubled from last year to 24.5 million. The places the company in close competition with Samsung as the fourth-largest global smartphone manufacturer behind Nokia, RIM, and Apple.

HTC has attributed most of this growth to the exploding demand for Android smartphones, and expects this trend to continue. HTC plans to cover their bases by strongly supporting Windows Phone 7 as well. The HD 7, in particular, looks like a great device for WP7 users as it is more or less an Evo sans Android. [Reuters via WPCentral]

Everything you wanted to know about the T-Mobile Comet

If the T-Mobile Comet has piqued your interest, the read on, friend. The phone formerly known as the Huawei Ideos is expected to drop this week -- Nov. 3 to be exact -- and we've been handed every last little details on the phone. It's not being billed has a high-end device, and nor should it be. But it is being billed as the first entry-level Google phone (Google experience, that is), with Android 2.2, Wifi b/g/n and all the bells and whistles that come along with that title.

The week in Android news

It's been a week of unsourced rumors regarding the rumored Nexus Two (or Nexus S), the emergence of Gingerbread, we've all gotten some quality time with Google TV, plus a bunch of new apps. Check it out:

Apple sues Motorola over multitouch on its Android smartphones

Another day, another patent lawsuit. And this time around it's Apple suing Motorola over multitouch on nearly all its Android phones -- basically everything up to and including the Droid X. In addition to the multitouch infringement claims, there's also:

Method and Apparatus for Displaying and Accessing Control and Status Information in a Computer System.

Support for Custom User-Interaction Elements in a Graphical, Event-Driven Computer System.

Needless to say, this will take a while. And, no, if Moto loses it doesn't mean your phone will be taken away -- it just means Moto will have to either change how it's doing things -- and/or pay a bucketload of money to Apple. Get the full breakdown on the suit at the source link. [Patently Apple via 9 to 5 Mac]

Qik looking For T-Mobile G2 beta testers

Have a shiny new G2 and an interest to help developers optimize their applications for your handset?

Qik, the popular video streaming application for Android, is seeking G2 owners to participate in a Beta to test their application for the device. If you're interested in helping them bring their cross platform application to your device, shoot off an email to support@qik.com with "T-Mobile G2 Beta Test" as the subject line.

Facebook is holding a mobile event on Nov 3

We just received an invite to a "Mobile Event at Facebook HQ" scheduled for Wednesday Nov 3. No press release, no fanfare, no inkling of what it might be, just the invitation. When thinking to ourselves, "Why would Facebook invite Android Central to their big Mobile shin-dig?" we can come up with a few answers. Maybe there's going to be a new and improved Facebook client for Android with deep ties into Gingerbread. Maybe there really is going to be a Facebook phone. Or maybe it's our dashing good looks and the great conversation we would bring along. We'll know more Wednesday.

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